Engaging Wildlife in Elwha Habitat Restoration
Presentation Abstract
The Elwha project is one of the nation’s most comprehensive ecosystem restoration programs, designed to fulfill or approach each of SERI’s “attributes of restored ecosystems.” Most attention is in restoring historic salmon runs, redistributing and stabilizing sediments, and restoring forest on the exposed reservoir beds. We suggest wildlife are important to Elwha restoration: restoring wildlife is a project goal, wildlife will influence other restoration processes, and adapting restoration efforts to wildlife activity would enhance restoration outcomes. Wildlife are expected both to use restored Elwha habitats and shape habitat development. Diverse species will colonize forest restored to the reservoirs, and many will exploit nutrients and energy delivered by returning salmon. Growth and survival of trees and shrubs will be impacted by mammalian browsers, including ungulates, beavers, and smaller rodents. Ungulate browsing strongly shapes riparian forest structure and composition in the upper Elwha, and it is impacting revegetation in the reservoirs. Frugivorous birds play essential roles in forest restoration around the world, and potentially could disperse native seeds throughout the reservoir beds. Restoration success can be increased with action to limit negative wildlife impacts and increase or expand positive influences. One of the most promising actions is redistributing large woody debris (LWD) from accumulation sites along reservoir shorelines to open sediment deposits. Where appropriately placed, LWD provides perch sites to attract avian seed dispersers and protects trees and shrubs from ungulate browsers. LWD also provides structures for wildlife that consume salmon, facilitating dispersal of marine derived nutrients to young forest. By investing resources to direct wildlife activity in support of revegetation, this approach engages wildlife in efforts to restore their ecosystem. It offers a model for environmental stewardship with broad relevance.
Session Title
Session S-06F: Elwah River Restoration: Evolution of Habitats and Ecosystems During a Dam Removal Project
Conference Track
Restoration
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Dam retirement--Washington (State)--Elwha River; Dams--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Elwha River; Sediment transport--Washington (State)--Elwha River; Riparian restoration--Washington (State)--Elwha River; Marine resources conservation--Washington (State)--Elwha River
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Elwha River (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Engaging Wildlife in Elwha Habitat Restoration
Room 6C
The Elwha project is one of the nation’s most comprehensive ecosystem restoration programs, designed to fulfill or approach each of SERI’s “attributes of restored ecosystems.” Most attention is in restoring historic salmon runs, redistributing and stabilizing sediments, and restoring forest on the exposed reservoir beds. We suggest wildlife are important to Elwha restoration: restoring wildlife is a project goal, wildlife will influence other restoration processes, and adapting restoration efforts to wildlife activity would enhance restoration outcomes. Wildlife are expected both to use restored Elwha habitats and shape habitat development. Diverse species will colonize forest restored to the reservoirs, and many will exploit nutrients and energy delivered by returning salmon. Growth and survival of trees and shrubs will be impacted by mammalian browsers, including ungulates, beavers, and smaller rodents. Ungulate browsing strongly shapes riparian forest structure and composition in the upper Elwha, and it is impacting revegetation in the reservoirs. Frugivorous birds play essential roles in forest restoration around the world, and potentially could disperse native seeds throughout the reservoir beds. Restoration success can be increased with action to limit negative wildlife impacts and increase or expand positive influences. One of the most promising actions is redistributing large woody debris (LWD) from accumulation sites along reservoir shorelines to open sediment deposits. Where appropriately placed, LWD provides perch sites to attract avian seed dispersers and protects trees and shrubs from ungulate browsers. LWD also provides structures for wildlife that consume salmon, facilitating dispersal of marine derived nutrients to young forest. By investing resources to direct wildlife activity in support of revegetation, this approach engages wildlife in efforts to restore their ecosystem. It offers a model for environmental stewardship with broad relevance.
